Metallic building structure



3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Hx A. HENNING METALLIC BUILDING STRUCTURE Nov. 6, 1962 Filed May l, 1959 BY i AT'A/Ey Nov. 6, 1962 H. A. HENNING Y 3,062,334

METALLIC BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed May l, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 25 Hen/y 4. Henn/ny IN VEN TOR.

` L BY 0 mfg/wk ArroR/vfy 3,062,334 METALLIC BUILDING STRUCTURE Henry A. Henning, 4723 Linden, Bellaire, Tex. Filed May 1, 1959, Ser. No. 810,282 4 Claims. (Cl. 1239-1) This invention relates to buildings and more particularly to a metallic building structure made up of panels or structural units formed of sheet metal.

While not limited to such use, the invention nds particular application in connection with structures of generally spherical or dome coniiguration, which are erected by assembling sheet metal units or panels of predetermined shape.

The present invention has for an important object the provision of a metallic building embodying panels or units formed of sheet metal adapted to be assembled in erecting the building and including means for connecting the panels together to form a continuous wall of the building.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metallic building structure made up of panels or units of predetermined shape formed of sheet metal which are adapted to be assembled without the use of any framework or additional supporting means to form a self-sustaining structure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a metallic building made up of panels or units formed of sheet metal adapted to be connected together to form a weatherproof,,water-tight structure without the use of seal forming or caulking means.

Another object of the invention is to provide sheet metal panels of predetermined shape and dimensions and connecting means for the same, whereby the panels may be assembled to erect a dome shaped building in which the seams or joints between the panels are water-proof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a metallic building made up of panels which are of the same geometrical configuration and dimensioned to be fitted together to form a self-sustaining building of dome shape.

Another further object of the invention is to provide metal panels of similar geometrical configuration adapted to be assembled to form a building of dome shape and having portions arranged to be interitted to form structural supporting and reenforcing elements, whereby the building is made self-supporting without the necessity of providing any framework for the building.

A still further project of the invention is the provision of a metallic building which is of simple design and rugged construction made up of sheet metal panels and connecting means therefor which are designed to be placed together in a disassembled condition to form a unitary package containing all the necessary parts for erecting the building, whereby such a building may be furnished in a convenient form for transfortation and to be assembled and erected by the user.

The above and other important objects and advantages of the invention may best be understood from the following detailed description constituting a specification of the same, when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein- FIGURE l is a side elevational view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and showing the building structure in a completely erected condition;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view, on a greatly enlarged scale, showing the joint structure of the invention, and the manner in which the metal panels are assembled and connected together in erecting the building;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the joint structure of the invention as illustrated in FIG- URE 2;

arent ffice FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5 5 in FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of one of the connector units of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the invention is illustrated herein in connection with a metallic building of generally dome or spherical shape, made up of sheet metal panels, all of which are of similar geometrical coniiguration, having marginal portions shaped to be intertted when the panels are assembled, and including connector elements shaped for intertting engagement with the adjacent corner portions of adjoining panels to connect such corner portions together and to form with the panels a weather-proof and water-tight connection. The panels and connector elements are also shaped to form, when assembled, internal ribs or structural elements which render the building self-sustaining without the use of any framework or other supporting structure.

In the present illustration, the building structure is of dome or substantially hemi-spherical shape, formed of circumferential rows of panels formed of sheet metal. The

panels of each circumferential row being identical in shape and dimension, while the panels of each successive circumferential row from bottom to top of the structure are of different dimensions than those of the adjacent rows, but are of the same general geometrical configuration. Each of the panels 10 may be of rhomboidal or diamond shape having a main body portion 12 and formed with anges 14-14 along two adjacent sides which extend substantially at right angles to the main body portion and similar anges 16-16, along the remaining two adjacent sides, which extend substantially at right angles to the main body portion, but in the opposite direction therefrom to the direction of the -ilanges 14. Each of the panels may also have its main portion 12 bent, along the line 18 extending diagonally from one of its apices to the opposite apex to form two at triangular areas positioned at a slight angle to each other, whereby the strength of the panel is increased. The panels may be cut away at the corners of the main portion as indicated at 22 for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out.

The panels are designed to be assembled by positioning the ilanges extending in the same direction from the main body portion along two adjacent sides of a panel in one circumferential row inside of and in contact with flanges of two panels of an adjacent circumferential row which extend in the other direction from the main body portions. By thus assembling the panels, it will be apparent that the downmost flanges of each panel may be positioned exteriorly over the upmost anges of the panels below to form a water shedding structure.

The sides of all of the panels are of the same length, but the angles between the sides of the panels of one circumferential row differ from the angles between the sides of the panels of the next circumferential row, whereby the panels may be made to form a curved or dome shaped structure when the panels are assembled. In the present illustration, the distance between the obtuse angles of the panels increases from the bottom toward the top of the structure, while the acute angles of the panels decreases from bottom to top of the structure.

By thus forming the panels, the same number of panels may be used in each of the circumferential rows from bottom to top of the structure, so that the same number of each of the different sizes of panels is used, thus greatly simplifying the packaging of the parts when furnishing a complete building in a disassembled condition.

A suitable cap or ventilator structure 24 may be provided, which is suitably shaped for attachment to the topmost row of the panels to complete the structure.

A bottommost row of panels 26 of triangular shape may be provided, which are connected to the next row of panels above, in position to rest on the ground to form a suitable base for the building. The adjacent corners of the panels are connected together by connector elements generally designated 28, best illustrated in FIGURE 6, each of which is of general rectangular shape, formed with four triangular areas 30, 32, 34 and 36, and having web portions 38 and 40 positioned to connect adjacent sides of the triangular area 30 and the triangular areas 34 and 36 and adjacent sides of the triangular area 32 and the triangular areas 34 and 36. The web portions 38 are arranged at an angle corresponding to the acute angle between adjacent lsides of the panels of an upper circumferential row, while the web portions 40 are arranged at an angle corresponding to the acute angle between adjacent sides of the panels of a lower circumferential row. Corresponding ones of the web portions 38 and 40, dening sides of the triangular areas 34 and 36 are arranged at angles to each other, corresponding to the obtuse angle between adjacent sides of the panel of a row of panels intermediate said upper and lower rows of panels. The triangular areas 30 and 32 are bent along the line 42, to tit corresponding portions of the panels above and below, and suitable openings 44 are provided in the triangular portions and in the webs, through which suitable fastening means, such as the bolts 46, may be extended which also extend through the panels to connect the panels and connector elements together.

For convenience in manufacture, the connector elements 2S may be formed in several pieces, as best shown in FIGURE 6 which may be secured together in any suitable manner as by welding, or the like. It will be apparent that by positioning the connector elements 28 at the adjacent corners of the panels in the manner described above, a completely closed and water-proof structure is formed by the overlapping portions of the panels and connector elements to provide a completely weather-tight building, requiring no sealing means or caulking at locations where the panels are connected together. Moreover, due to the overlapping arrangement of the flanges of the panels of the adjacent rows and the olf-setting of the webs 38 from the webs 40 of the connector elements, the structure is reenforced by rib-like formations extending in a somewhat spiral arrangement from top to bottom of the structure, thus forming a strong and rigidly braced structure which is self-sustaining and requires no framework or other supporting means.

It will be apparent that by suitably changing the dimensions of the panels and the number of different panels, as well as the number of each size of panel which is used, buildings of different sizes and shape may be constructed.

In erecting a building, by the use of the sheet metal panels and connector elements of the invention, the uppermost row of panels may conveniently be attached to the top plate or ventilator 24, and supported in an elevated position as by means of a crane or other suitable support, and successive rows of panels may then be assembled and connected thereto, the assembled parts being further elevated from time to time, to maintain the structure in a convenient position for the addition of further rows of handles thereto, until the entire building has been assembled.

The invention constructed and used as described above, thus provides a metallic building structure of different design and rugged construction which may be economically manufactured and furnished in a disassembled condition to be easily and quickly assembled and erected by the user.

The invention is disclosed herein in connection with a specific embodiment of the same, but it will be understood that this is intended by way of illustration only and that various changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a building having a dome shape a plurality of panels of rhomboidal shape formed of sheet metal arranged in horizontal rows with adjacent side portions of the panels in overlapping relation, the panels of each row being of larger dimensions than the panels of the next higher row, each panel having flanges along two adjacent sides thereof extending in one direction positioned with the inner faces of flanges extending in the opposite direction along two adjacent sides of a panel of an adjacent row and connector means having planar portions in spaced parallel planes disposed in overlapping relation to and connected to corner portions of adjacent panels and web portions connecting said planar portions and disposed in vertical angular relationship.

2. In a building having a dome shape a plurality of panels of rhomboidal shape formed of sheet metal arranged in horizontal rows with adjacent side portions of the panels in overlapping relation, the panels of each row being of smaller dimensions than the panels of the next lower row, each panel having anges along two adjacent sides thereof extending in one direction positioned with the inner faces of flanges extending in the opposite direction along two adjacent sides of a panel of an adjacent row and connector means having planar portions disposed in spaced parallel planes in overlapping relation to and connecting corner portions of the panels of each row to corner portions of the panels of an adjacent row and web portions connecting adjacent sides of said planar portions and disposed in vertical angular relationship.

3. In a building having a dome shape a plurality of panels of rhomboidal shape formed of sheet metal disposed in horizontal rows with the acute angled corners of the panels of one row disposed in vertical angular relation to the acute angled corners of the panels of two adjacent rows, the panels of each row being of smaller dimensions than the panels of the next lower row, and a connector element having planar portions disposed in spaced parallel planes in overlapping relation to and connecting together obtuse angled corner portions of adjacent panels of one row and acute angled corner portions of the panels of adjacent rows and web portions connecting said planar portions and disposed in vertical angular relationship.

4. In a building having a dome shape a plurality of panels of rhomboidal shape formed of sheet metal disposed in horizontal rows with the acute angled corners of the panels of one row disposed in vertical angular relation to the acute angled corners of the panels of two adjacent rows, the panels of each row being of larger dimensions than the panels of the next higher row, and a connector element having planar portions positioned in one plane disposed in overlapping relation to and connecting together obtuse angled corner portions of adjacent panels in one row, said element also having other planar portions positioned in different planes in overlapping relation to and connecting together acute angled corner portions of panels of adjacent rows and web portions connecting said planar portions and disposed in vertical angular relationship.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,570,516 Miller Jan. 19, 1926 1,970,404 Tesch Aug. 14, 1934 2,050,162 Creighton Aug. 4, 1936 2,601,833 Olsen July 1, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,071 Germany Feb. 15, 1883 427,360 France May 26, 1911 

